Naadha Paddhathi

Oh Manipaaduka! Your majestic sound is taken, by people to mean Your
response as 'Yes', to the pleas for protection that people make to
the Lord.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Devotees of RanganAthA
awaiting His response to their appeals for protection , greet Your
gorgeous naadham as Your Lord's affirmation of His intent to come to
their rescue. They treat and welcome Your naadham as PraNavam , the
symbol of assent from Your Lord. When noble seers agree to do some
thing , they indicate their approval with the utterance of Pranavam .

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! When Your Lord has His
sanchAram with You , the naadham that You generate appears like Your
response through PraNavAkAra naadham indicating that You take the
side of the suffering people appealing to Your Lord for protection.

3)People make their appeal to the Lord and are awaiting for His
response. Meanwhile , they hear the Pranava Naadham from the
Paadhukais. That majestic naadham sounds like the anghikAram from
the Paadhukais for Swamty Desikan ( thvAm Omithi udhgiranthIm
avaimi) ..V.S

Oh Mother Manipaaduka! You make for the wanton wandering of the Lord.
May be, it is You who teaches musical sound to the anklets of Lakshmi
and Bhoomi, walking along with the Lord, one on either side.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Mother ! Oh PaadhukE! During Your
joyous travels with Your Lord, You raise melodious sounds , which
appear to teach the way to create sweet sounds to the ankle
ornaments of Sri Devi and Bhoomi Devi standing near Their Lord .

2) PerumAl is " Svaira vihAran". He travels as He wishes. The cause
(hEthu) behind such unfettered movement is the Paadhukai through its
anatharanga kaimkaryam. Sri RanganAyaki (PadmA) and Bhumi PirAtti
(DharaNi) are standing nearby ( paryantha bhAjA: ) enjoying the
musical sounds. The Devis have gem-studded ankle ornaments (
Kallizhaittha Silampu ThaNDaikaL or MaNi Noopurams). As the
paadhukais facilitate the sanchAram of the Lord , they seem to give
lessons to the ankle ornaments of the Devis about the way to raise
such sweet naadham…V.S

Oh Manipaaduka! Lord Ranganatha is to set out on a journey; You reach
the Foot that is often clung to by great sages; (the foot is also
frequently borne by Garuda). Now You produce an auspicious sound that
looks like the words of benediction for good journey.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh Mani PaadhukE! When RanganAthA is
ready to start on His missions , You carry the lotus feet of the
Lord , which have been held with affection often by Garudan .
During such times , You make a unique naadham.This naadham resembles
the Vedha manthrAs associated with the pronouncement of
auspiciousness ( Svasthi Vachanams) for the occasion prior to any
major endeavour. It appears that You assume the role of the family
priest (PurOhithar) , who utters the svasthi vaachanams prior to
the commencement of auspicious functions .

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that
ThiruvAimozhi is recited to ward off any anishtams(dangers) that may
come the way of PerumAL.

3) The time is the SanchAram time ( prAsTAnikEshu samayEshu).
Paadhukais are carrying the Lord's Thiruvadi , which were carried
earlier by PakshirAjan (Dhvijapungavan) before. The Paadhukais begin
their movement and the naadham raised by the gems inside the Kumizh
of Paadhukais (Garbha MaNi PranAdhai: ) at that time sounds like
PuNyAhaghOsham ( the sound of Vedha Manthrams uttered for invoking
auspicousness …V.S

Oh Manipaaduka Devi! Discerning people choose to live in Srirangam,
which can be described as the sacred sand-dune of the river Kaveri,
so that when one groans in grief at the last moment, Your sweet sound
will come as a suitable solace.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Some fortunate people
take up their residence on the banks of Cauvery river at Srirangam
to be close to You during their last days on earth . During those
times , they want to have the peace of mind to hear Your response to
their appeals to rescue them from samsaric ills and to grant them
Moksham. They have concluded that their proximity to You will enable
them to hear Your Naadham of response
From the Lord without fail.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! When the Sriranga vaasis
lament as a result of suffering during their last moments on earth ,
You seem to console them with Your sweet naadham. The inner meaning
is that those who depart from this world from Srirangam have the
bhAgyam of the Sevai of PerumAL and the AchAryAs during their last
moments .

3) Those who have dEha thyAgam at Srirangam are blessed ones
(Kruthina: ). During their last moments (anthakaalE) , they raise
sorrowful sounds (aartha dhvani). Appropriate (uchitham )and
consoling response (uttharam) for these aartha dhvanis arise in the
from of sweet naadham (manju -ninadhEna ) from the Dhivya Padhukais .
The departing jeevan gets consoled through that naadham falling on
its ears....V.S

Oh Manipaaduka! You are inseparable from the Lord's Feet; whether He
went as a mediator for the Pandavas, or whether He put the foot on
King Mahabali to suppress him, or He dashed against Shakatasura and
killed him or the like, You presumably proclaim the Lord's exploits
appropriately, by means of Your pleasing sound.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The agreeable and
distinct sounds that You generate during Your many travels with the
Lord such as visits to DuryOdhanA's court as ambassador , quelling
MahAbali's pride as VaamanA , destroying ShakatAsurA through Your
kick and during the uthsavams at Srirangam. Your sounds of joy over
the Lord's victory during those times resemble laudatory poems
proclaiming His powers .

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The sweet sounds raised by the
Paadhukais during the Lord's sanchaaram reminds Swamy Desikan of the
recitations of sthOthrams by those who witnessed major leelais of
the Lord such as visit to the sabhai of DuryOdhanan as PaaNDava
DhUthan , punishmnet of MahA Bali as Thirvikraman and the destruction
of SakatAsuran in Gokulam .

3) There are many YaahtrAs by the Lord with His Paadhukais. They are
Like uthsavams for the Lord and the Paadhukais. The Lord is always
victorious during these missions to protect the Saadhu janam and
punish the evil ones. The Lord adds a title as PaanDava DhUthan ,
Bhali Vimathanan and sakaDa bhangan et al . The paadhukais raise
sweet sounds at the end of these missions to proclaim aloud the
glories of the victorious Lord ( manju svanai: noonam Thvam
bhirudhOpahithAni VeerAyithAni praTayasE). The sounds of the
Paadhukais certainly resemble the loud proclamations of the valour of
the Victorious Lord, who just acquired another title …V.S

Oh Paaduka! Or do you sound warnings to me, by the gemstones
colliding amidst themselves, out of Your spontaneous kindness for me,
observing that I have left my senses to indulge in chasing sensuous
pleasures even after I had started on praising You of Veda-worshipped
greatness?

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Your naadham is
instrumental in deflecting me from my propensity for engagement in
worldly pleasures. You direct me to engage in praising You , who is
the object of praise by VedhAs. You show mercy to me inspite of my
lowliness and bless me . Your timely instructions through Your
naadham makes me persist in my worthy efforts to sing Your praise
through the slOkams of PaadhukA Sahasram.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! Even the VedhAs can not
praise Your glories adequately. Inspite of that , I engage in my
attempt to eulogize You. When my mind wanders away without awareness
of the noble task I commenced, You seem to instruct me through Your
sweet naadham to persist in my efforts without distraction . The
connection is to ThriuvAimozhi's sweet sounds , which appeal to
people not to get lost in SamsAram but to meditate on the Thiruvadi
of PerumAL.

Oh Manipaaduka! Lord Ranganatha is out on His journey to eradicate
the enemies (asuras). You then generate an auspicious sound. I
presume, You, as one in whom the responsibility of protection of all
three worlds is vested, assure in so many words, "Oh Sadhus, Do not
fear".

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhavam: In an earlier verse , Swamy
Desikan equated the Naadham from the Paadhukai to the sound of
PraNavam. Here , Swamy equates the naadham to the sound assuring
devotees of protection from fear (abhaya vaarthai). He says: " Oh
Mani PaadhukE! When You start on Your Lord's auspicious campaigns to
root out the enemies of Devas , You generate a sound that identifies
You as the One , who has vowed to protect the three worlds from any
harm. You seem to be assuring the virtuous people that they
will have total freedom from fear of any kind.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: The inner meaning is that SaThAri
Soori incarnated to protect the people of the world (samsAris) with
His many upadEsams through His prabhandhams to seek the sacred feet
of the Lord as protection against all samsAric ills.

3) The naadham generated by the paadhukais at times of the Lord's
yaathrAs( Dhaanava ripO: Devasya prasTAna mangala vidhou prathipanna
Naadhaam) are for the auspiciousness during the execution of the task
at hand. The Lord's Paadhukais are firm in their resolve to protect
the three worlds through Their assitance to the Lord ( Jagath
thritaya rakshana dheekshithAm ThvAm ). The naadham arising during
these YaathrAs seem to say : " Oh Good People of the world ! Do not
be afraid ! My Lord is going to protect You all ( Saadhava:
maabhaishta: ithi svayam aalapantheem jaanE)…V.S

Oh Manipaaduka! When the Supreme Person embarks on a free sportive
walk, You bear the Lord's Lotus Feet and produce a sound which looks
like the chanting of a mantra to drive the enemy armies.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy `s anubhavam: Oh PadhukE! You join with the playful
gait Of the Lord engaged in destroying the enemies of DevAs and
generate sounds from the movements with Him .At that time , the
naadham originating from You resemble rare incantations that chase
away the enemies of the Lord.

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE! The naadham that You
generate during the Lord's campaign (yaathrAs) against His enemies
seem to suggest that You are reciting manthrams to chase away Lord's
adversaries. The inner meaning is that Swamy NammAzhwAr enjoys the
glories of the Lord's Thiruvadis in ThiruvAimozhi and blessed us with
the manthrams housed there. Those manthrams chase away the kaamam ,
KrOdham, maathsaryam et al and get us close to the Thiruvadi of the
Lord.

3) Oh PaadhukE! You have attained the Thiriuvadi of Your Lord , who
has His own unfetterd sanchAram with You ( Pumsa: svacchandha vibrama
gathou PaadhAravindham abhigamithavAn). The joy arising from Your
bhAgyam results in the generation of a delectable naadham from You
(PaadhAravindham abhigamya jaatha svanA ). That exhuberant and sweet
naadham has the effect of a manthram that is repeated with every step
of the Lord to chase away the army of the enemies of the Lord …V.S

Oh Paaduka! When Lord Ranganatha steps down from His Adisesha couch
to go out to help His people, say, in the autumn, it is Your
proclaiming sound that excels even the roar of the Sankha in the
matter of being sweet to the ears of the people outside.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy' anubhavam: Oh Mani PadhukE1 When RanganAthA gets
up from His AdhisEshaa bed during the autumn season to protect the
righteous people , Your sweet sounds are heard first to announce the
Lord's intentions. The divine conch sounds thereafter. The conch
takes the cue from You to broadcast the Lord's departure on His
mission to the waiting world.

2) Here, Swamy Desikan celebrates the naadham that is delectable to
the ears generated by the Paadhukais ( Sruthi sukhA: Tava NaadhA: ) .
The time is saradh kaalam ( Iyppasi) . The Lord leaves His bed of
AdhisEshan to protect His saadhu jananm ( aasritha janasya rakshArTam
sEshE bhujanga talpAth samujjihAnE sathi). The conch sounds to
announce the YaathrA of the Lord (prasTAna ninAdham ). The naadham
from the paadhukaa rathnams precede however the sankha naadham ...V.S

Oh Manipaaduka! You too are a gopika (being the protector of the
Feet!). The Lord who has great love for the gopis, has similarly
great affection for this gopika of the Paaduka! You are supposed to
emit loud sound equivalent to the Gopis' characteristic of their
crowd in Gokulam. The Lord has now brought You to the stage (the
Rangasthala) from cowherds' place. Nevertheless He does not wish to
leave You off, because of His great love for You.

Special Notes from Sri. U.Ve. V. Sadagopan

1) Utthamur Swamy's anubhaavam: Swamy Desikan uses the double
maeaning of the word "Ghosaham " in this verse to equate Paadhukai
to a Gopi. Gosham can mean either the colony of cowherds or the loud
sound . "Gosha Vibhavam " in this context can mean either the wealth
of the cowherd colony or the Paadhukaa naadham . Swamy Desikan
says: " Oh PaadhukE! Krishna took the form of the son of NandhagOpar
and became a Gopa kumAran Himself. You were attached to his lotus
feet in the cowherd colonies at Gokulam and BrindAvanam, which were
rich in wealth . You became a Gopi and raised the GhOsha Vaibhavam
then. Your qualifications for the status of becoming a Gopi stem from
His love for You , similar to the love He had for the other Gopis of
BrindAvanam . When He left BrindAvanam and settled in Srirangam
as RanganathA, You still exhibit the status of Gopi and possess
GhOsha Vaibhavam . Your Lord does not go anywhere without You because
of His eternal affection for You. Hence , You continue to be His
Gopi. Your ghOsha vaibhavam at Srirangam also continues from the
majestic ghOshm that You, generate, when You accompany Your Lord .

2) Srimath Andavan's anubhavam: Oh PaadhukE ! The Lord never leaves
You raising sweet naadham, whether it is inside the Ranga VimAnam or
during His sanchArams. The tradition has it that Lord RanganAthan
wears His Paadhukais , while seated on His throne under the Ranga
VimAnam. The inner meaning is that PerumAL is always with NammAzhwAr…
V.S

3) Oh PadhukE ! Your Lord is dearest to the Gopis (Gopijana
Priyathama:). You protect the lotus soft feet of Your Lord during His
sanchArams here in His leelA vibhUthi (iha padhAmbhuruhayO: nithyam
gOpikAM ). That bhAgyam of protecting the Lord's sacred feet has
given You great Naadha vaibhavam ( nijAbhi: gathibhi: sampanna ghOsha
vibhavAm ThvAm). Because of Your Lord's vaathsalyam for You and Your
naadham , He never leaves You even when He is seated on His throne
inside the Ranga VimAnam ( GhOsha VibhavAm ThvAm RangasamAsrithOapi
preethyEva na Thyajathi). The sabhdha slEshai (double entendre) for
GopikAm used by Swamy Desikan is splendid . Swamy describes the
Thiruvadi protecting (gopikAm ) paadhukai as a GopikA dear to the
Lord as well…V.S